Notts aim to avoid another relegation battle in top flight

SEASON STARTS TODAY AGAINST DURHAM

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NOTTINGHAMSHIRE begin their Rothesay County Championship Division One campaign at home against Durham today. Here's a look at Notts and their top flight rivals going into the 2025 season.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Previewed by Jon Culley - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

■ Key winter moves:

South African seamer Dane Paterson's move to Middlesex after 180 wickets in four seasons at Trent Bridge came as a surprise, although international cricket may now limit his availability.

Australia's 24-year-old pacy all-rounder Fergus O'Neill (four matches in April) and Pakistan quick Mohammad Abbas (six rounds, in May and September) arrive as overseas bowlers.

Conor McKerr from Surrey further boosts the seam stock. South African wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne can offer significant middle-order runs.

■ What we're looking forward to seeing:

Remember Josh Tongue? Some 20 months after his move from Worcestershire to Trent Bridge was announced, the 27-year-old pace bowler is at last ready to make his Nottinghamshire debut after a torrid time with injuries that has restricted him to only 12 first-class matches since June 2021.

As a contracted England player, his workload will be controlled but at least three appearances in the first block of Rothesay County Championship fixtures is on the cards.

■ Final thought:

After looking more like relegation candidates than title prospects since returning to Division One two seasons ago, Nottinghamshire are sensibly not setting their ambitions higher than finishing in the top half of the table in 2025.

Although they have a decent hand of bowlers, more is needed from the batters, particularly the middle order, and particularly in the first innings, where they have fallen notably short.

DURHAM

Previewed by Graham Hardcastle